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Month: November 2015

Off late, changing the DP with filter has become a mandatory norm. If you do not change it, you aren’t enough supportive to the cause. The first DP filter came when US legalized gay rights. Overnight, people across the planet changed it. So, the moment I logged in my Facebook account, my entire 2BHK apartment resonated with multicolored DPs. US was rejoicing the legalization of Gay rights, and so was India (we are not legalized though). Albeit, for Facebook, it was yet another business strategy to survey how early people respond to the ‘DP changing trend’. A conspicuous figure, approximately 26 million people covered a rainbow flag over their profile pictures. It happened like it was a protocol to do so right after the proclamation. In India, the DP changing population ironically involved people who were not aware of the US gay legalization and the ones who simply aped the west.

The objective of giving an identity to the homosexuals has blown out of proportion and developed into a social media diaspora. We have this uncanny instinct to go berserk over an announcement no matter whether it concerns us. After all, it’s cool or ‘kewl’ as they say!

In last few years, extensive efforts have been taken to give utmost justice to people with different sexual orientation. This category broadly involves Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender.

Strikes, movements, conferences and many more ground-breaking actions have been taken place to bring ‘them’ an equal stand. In the wake of the Supreme Court of the United States’ (SCOTUS) equal marriage ruling, huge discussion has happened. Somewhere in the middle of this chaos (as I prefer to call it) media, and brands have found major fodder – the tussled war of supporting them and not supporting them. There have been foremost arguments against the well-known brands on publicly supporting the LGBT community and their rights. The bow and arrow round encompassed matters like:

Who came up to support?

Who didn’t support?

Who did?

Who should?

Who shouldn’t?

It is imperative to accept the fact that orientation and gender identity can be hard to realize from the majority’s position. I wish I could understand the fuss around this. So many people in recent past have realized their orientation and have taken actions to materialize it. While, we are raising high flags for Caitlyn Jenner, we have our home grown Manobi Bandopadhyay, the first transgender designated as a principal at Krishnagar Women’s College in West Bengal. Both had their share of pain and struggle and could only come out of their closet in their late 50s and 60s.

The sheer grit to do it and announce to the world their true identity gave strong wave to many. As former ‘Bruce Jenner’ now Caitlyn puts “I’m so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can’t wait for you to get to know her/me.” Same goes with former Somnath now Manabi – she faced a series of abuse, discrimination and bucket full of hatred. She claims,

“I am mature and I have the right to choose my gender.” Somewhere in this fight to establish one’s identity, I didn’t get the point of fingering into one’s affair. Movements, strikes, choir of opinions and multitudes of people on road – taking the baton of identity honor on legal papers. Not sure, if this bumblebee euphoria turned up because many third gender people claimed asexuality like Caitlyn.

Coming to the realistic world, I look forward to bisexual mannequins, third gender wallets, transgender perfumes, and series of gay/lesbian films. Gay rights or marriages are here to give a mark of acceptance to ‘them’ and certainly not pop eyes on their sexuality. Homosexuality is one’s preference just the way it is. Honestly, other than Google, no one ever asks you if you are human.